January really is crap

[Nomoreburritosforgodsake]

I’m a positive person and try to make the best out of things, count my blessings etc, but it really is the most depressing month…cold, wet, quiet, no money..just so blah.
I don’t mind staying in, have put fairy lights, candles, pjs and throws..still crap
Think it’s more the money and weather, just getting by, the most excitement being taking the dog for a walk and making lasagna. Dd asking for zoo, cinema, soft play and takeaways..just not happening this month

How to make Jan-well-Jan-March better?!

Does anyone actually prefer these months? I remember a brilliant year pre Dd where we went ski ing and then to Thailand just to escape it, no option for that these days 😅

I’ve loved noticing it’s still light at 4.30. Not so much last week!

@Titasaducksarse how lovely! I’ve got loads of daffs and crocuses sticking their green shoots up. First ones will be up by Feb I reckon.

Days a bit longer, yes. Brighter? Nonsense. It’s rarely bright and crisp. And anyway bright and crisp just means colder. I’d rather grey and rainy than fucking freezing. The cold makes me ill and depressed, sun doesn’t help that - it just lets me know it’ll be even colder and makes me more fed up.

I'm also a January hater! Best one was the year we flew to New Zealand - I plan to do that again when we can afford to! Came back mid Feb and felt like we'd really missed the worst of it.

I've heard some bloody strange things on this thread. Leftover Christmas chocolates?! Winter salads??

This sounds lovely though does it not feel a bit less 'special' without everyone else on the outside world celebrating or do you prefer it that way?

Have you been celebrating since December?

Sorry, I'm intrigued

Maybe it depends where you live, but I live in the south of the uk and it’s noticeably so much brighter as soon as we get past Christmas.

It's not brighter at 7 am. It's dark and cold and miserable.

I always feel a huge sense of relief in January, Christmas is aaaaages away again. I'm the happiest I've been in weeks, about the only cheery one in my office anyway!

I booked flights to Lisbon for £49 where it's currently averaging 15-16 degrees and will be there for a few days in two weeks. Granted, the DC are older and we can do this.
Feb is just as bad. Going to Krakow.
Just had my birthday two days ago but it doesn't lighten the gloom of these months.

Christmas is the only good thing about winter. January is like Narnia - always winter and never Christmas.

I have a friend who lives in Grand Cayman. Seriously considering a visit in Feb.

We've had crisp, cold days with bright sunshind for the last couple of days and are due the same tomorrow. I can see snow on the mountains from my house. I'm not a big fan of winter, but lasagne, fairy lights and dog walks don't sound too bad to me really. At least you can have lasagne. I'm gluten and dairy-free

Oh I know it's rubbish

Ugh

Just waiting for it to be over

I hate it too, I’m just working to get through it and counting down to a hopefully warm holiday in a couple of weeks!

I just don’t feel there is anything redeeming about January, I am cold, wet, sick of the dark, lacking energy and it’s a long time to payday because we get paid early in December. I go to the work in the dark and return in the dark which doesn’t help.

At least February is short! I can cope with March, feels more hopeful.

Wrong, wrong, wrong,.

it's not like a dark icy November where you know you've got 3 months of possible misery.
Next week we are halfway through the month. By next month we're all focused on what sort of summer we'll get any Easter!

Next year I’m booking two weeks off in January and going somewhere not necessarily hot, but where’s its not pitch black at 7:30am or 3:45pm! S.A.D is the worst!

@cardibach - I could quite happily never have another Christmas. 51 of them so far, I'm done.

What I find tough is the way the whole world tends to get gloomy / grumpy at once and the contrast with Christmas. I also find Christmas a bit OTT. It would be good if we could just have a gentler approach to the Christmas season and eke it out for longer!

Failing that, I tend to block things out a bit too. I like to stay indoors, do cleaning and organising, not try to achieve too much. Certainly no massive resolutions or life changes. I like the feeling of a new year but tend to save it for April and work in financial years

I love the cold and frost, love the dark nights, this is my time of year, I hate summer and the never ending days, sweating and lack of sleep. This is my month where I seek revenge to all the summer lovers those who tell me all summer that "it's not that hot", I say to all you January and cold weather haters "it's not that cold" or "the colder & darker the better"

We are still eating the Christmas treats had a baked cheese tonight with chips and pitta bread. Big glass of Bailey's makes everything better. Oh eating Ferrero Rocher and twiglets. Heated throw and Christmas spice soy wax melts.

I'm not a fan of January especially with this cold weather, I'm really feeling the cold this year too!!

I'm all up for hibernating with early, cosy nights, good food and lots of cups of tea as it's too cold to drink water.

I'm definitely looking forward to spring when the local cherry trees blossom, that's when it feels like a new year to me.

That sounds nice!

I'm finding it a bit depressing at present

The ten day forecast is actually looking pretty good here. It’s cold sure but it’s winter and can be beautiful when the sun is shining. I find if I get out for a walk every day I feel so much better. Then enjoy the darker evenings, light candles etc.

Love it. Muddy cold walks and back to a cosy clean and tidy house. Curling up in front of the fire, eating well, rested after a decent Christmas break and no social pressure.

I think its worth budgeting if you can to spread the cost of Christmas over the year so its not all out in Dec and then if you get paid early, putting it aside and paying it back to yourself on the proper day so Jan is not as long. Or hide some emergency money to pull back mid month.

It’s been beautiful here today. I was out walking the dog as the sun rose, the sky was gorgeous, the birds were singing, and it was all sparkly and crisp. I love this weather.
The days are getting longer too
January is a good time to hibernate (work aside).
Rest, recuperate, recharge.